Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rainbow BBQ

    4.6 (20 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Rainbow BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    RAINBOW BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Rainbow BBQ

    Recommended Reviews - Rainbow BBQ

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Takeout lunch from Honolulu, Hawaii... Located at Waterfront Plaza (formerly known as Restaurant Row), Rainbow BBQ is one of the many eateries here. The validated (free) covered parking structure is much appreciated! Remember to ask for a sticker for your parking ticket! Service is efficient and polite! I got the mandoo from the counter next to the cashier. It was among the other bento boxes filled with beautiful Korean cuisine! The ten mandoo were placed on a bed of green lettuce and tasted delicious! Thanks for a yummy meal! Note: Rainbow BBQ is like a convenience store with Korean food. There are many students here... and shared outdoor dining under large umbrellas.

    Main entrance
    Jee L.

    This was my first time visiting the restaurant, and I was not sure about this place. I ordered a Combo of steak and BBQ Beef ($21.99). The food came with three side dish menus. This place is a MUST-visit location! The flavor is fantastic, but it could be a bit salty for some. Bad: - Parking and finding the location were confusing. Good: - The restaurant validates parking. - Great flavor! - Friendly staff (Speaks Korean, so that it could be a plus for Koreans) Conclusion: Must try this restaurant when you are craving Korean food. Get some good food and finish it off with Korean ice cream.

    Salmon Plate
    Will K.

    All this food for $17!! Which is really good for it being in town. Well seasoned and I love adding the lemon juice on top of it for extra zest! Banchan is amazing, kimchi, fish cake, and salad all flavorful. Great service and came out pretty fast.

    Ann P.

    Rainbow BBQ, Korean Food Location Waterfront Plaza Very clean. GREEN Placard. Variety of plate lunches, bentos. also snacks, drinks. personal care products for sale. Parking. Lots of parking Open air seating area Food Variety of choices, bentos. Generous serving of Kalbi. Kalbi was marinated and tasty and soft. *****Recommended

    the entrance to the store
    Irene M.

    Category as Korean, Fast Food, Barbeque is putting it mildly... Rainbow BBQ is a lovely simple name though what you call it is much more complicated as this shop is filled with basically a little bit of everything from bentos to Yerba Mate the variety here is quite impressive as I happen to come across here. It probably started as a Korean bento with all the usual Kalbi, Meat Jun, Chicken, Salmon and Mandoo soup they do also have grab and go bentos along with every type of drinks galore, snacks, chips, candies and even a few personal items as well as breakfast is 7am-10am and lunch is from 11am-2pm. This convenience store with such friendly staff is a great place to take a break and I'm sure you pretty much will find what you need. Thank you!

    Steak plate. Nicely seasoned and cooked to medium as default.
    Michelle S.

    Cute little convenience store/Korean food joint. Clean, nice people and the food came out quickly. Ordered a steak plate and it was more than enough for two meals. The banchan was tasty and the steak was nicely seasoned.

    Grab and go bento
    Crystal R.

    Located in Restaurant Row, Rainbow BBQ serves to fulfill your Korean food cravings during your lunch break. If you are in a crunch for time, they also do have grab and go bentos to choose from. After roaming through the area for lunch, I opted to come in to this restaurant and snagged a bento. The bulgogi was cooked and seasoned perfectly however, the katsu fell short as it was soggy and dry. But don't let this dissuade you. I would come back and order another item on the menu. The restaurant also serves as a convenience store filled with snacks, drinks, and basically things that you can find at a 7-11. There is also a microwave that you can use to heat up your home lunch. And the staff there are really nice and are friendly.

    Spicy Pork Bento!
    Jane O.

    I love the flavor of this Spicy Pork..it's really sweet and spicy. I LOVE IT! I also love their mandu and Korean Ramen! It's really satisfying

    Kalbi. Too sweet like candy.
    Kathy L.

    The new owners seem to be much friendlier but I tried their kalbi plate and the meat was almost as sweet as candy. I wanted to try a combo plate of both their kalbi and spicy pork but was old that the kalbi can only be sold separately as it's own plate. Their side salad was very plain with an Italian dressing which did not go well with the rest of the dish. Would be better if they offered a mac salad. I may or may not be back to try their mini spicy pork.

    Steak
    Michael R.

    Perfect lunch or early dinner for Korean food. Huge portions and super tasty. Great for take home or for grabbing while coming to the federal building for your appointments. Plenty of paid parking and plenty of outdoor seating. Loads of drink options too. Great overall location.

    Kalbi plate
    Trix Q.

    The food was awesome for the price 100 percent. The presentation was as good as the food. I got me a Kal-bi plate. Comes with rice three three bone kalbi. Salad with a vinegar dressing, Taegu that looks like tofu strips and Kim chew... everything was flavorful on plate. A bonus with this place is that it is a mini market with drinks and snacks... neat concept. The cashier was very nice.

    Steve S.

    Wonderful location with both food and retail convenience store items. Tried a lot of things on our menu but my favorite is to ribeye steak at a very reasonable price around $17. Also picked up a couple drinks and a bag of chips to keep in my office. Looking forward to the next visit.

    Mandoo

    See all

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jin Hwan J.

    Jin Hwan J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ann n.
    0
    12
    0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 9
    Love this 30
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ms. R.
    0
    27
    24

    2 months ago

    First timer. I got the meat Jun plate and mandoo bento. Food was great. I was hungry already, didn't have time to take pictures. lol

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will K.
    0
    30
    36

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 1
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Trix Q.
    152
    105
    204

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Y A.
    0
    27
    27

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lynn N.
    8
    320
    57

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Rainbow BBQ

    You might also consider

    Rainbow Drive-In - Solid little place for some local food

    Rainbow Drive-In

    3.8(6.1k reviews)
    3.6 miKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    62 years in business

    Son wanted to go here. He saw it on TikTok. I got the. BBq pork meal. The pork was great. A…read moregazillion pounds of rice. I only at about 1/4 of it. The macaroni salad was macaroni with what seemed like just mayo. (Not my jam). He had the loco moco. He loved it. Again a billion pounds of rice. Kid had a hot dog. Didn't finish it. Quality was really low. Maybe we are used to dodger dog snap style flavorful ones. Anyway was a nice little meal and took a walk at the park a couple blocks away to walk off the massive amounts of rice.

    My family, across multiple generations, has been going here for decades, close to back when they…read morefirst opened. We have homes in the neighborhood. And we just can't go here anymore unless changes are made! We used to prefer them over Zippy's, but now they are less than 7-Eleven quality, while charging higher-end prices for the neighborhood. We have given them many chances, hoping it was just a fluke, but we have repeatedly been disappointed. Their chicken has become chewy and fatty, their rice is mediocre, and condiments such as mayonnaise are stripped down to the bare minimum quantity. Chile is poured so lightly that it is practically a minuscule amount. And their prices have continued to rise. I don't know if greedy people took over the restaurant who just don't care anymore, or what is going on. I remember when I used to take people here, and they would be impressed with the quality and quantity--plates just heaping with good cuts of meat, noodles, and rice. Those days are no more. As they say in Japan, the price performance is poor. Furthermore, their staff is rude. I can only imagine it was an owner working this day because it was a face I haven't seen that often. An older gentleman who appeared to be of Okinawan descent, working the cashier register, accosted us because I was privately discussing with my family about splitting different items with them. We were all ordering something, so he wasn't losing any money, but he told us about how prices are double in Waikīkī. First of all, it is rude to interrupt your customers that way. Secondly, we don't go to Waikīkī or care about Waikīkī. What happened to serving the locals? Third, Waikīkī has an assortment of restaurants, prices, and qualities, and they shouldn't be how you base your services. Lastly, I guarantee I could find a better deal in Waikīkī if I wanted to. Next time you're in the area, just go get a $6 bento or a $5 burrito from 7-Eleven next door. I assure you, the price performance and experience will be better. If Rainbow Drive-In is in the business of comparing themselves to other things, let's compare them to 7-Eleven and at least try to be better than them, right? I can get mochiko chicken from 7-Eleven for $6.99 that is similar in portion size and better quality. Meanwhile, they are serving their fatty, dry chicken for $16.75. Highway robbery! And they are not fancy, with their dirty picnic tables and plastic cutlery. They are just a step above a food truck, if that. Save yourself from the hype. They have gone downhill like a landslide. Go elsewhere.

    Photos
    Rainbow Drive-In - Rainbows mixed plate

    Rainbows mixed plate

    Rainbow Drive-In - Loco Moco Plate

    Loco Moco Plate

    Rainbow Drive-In - Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

    See all

    Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

    Jollibee - 2pc chicken Joy + Palabok meal *12/8/24

    Jollibee

    3.1(384 reviews)
    1.2 miKalihi
    $$

    I had the spicy 3-piece Chickenjoy (bone-in) combo meal with the Jolly Spaghetti, mashed potatoes,…read moreand an all-you-can-drink Diet Coke. The chicken skin had a nice crunch to it and the meat was juicy (not super oily, but juicy.) The mashed potatoes and gravy weren't bad. They were not super fluffy but a little more on the dense side. (Nothing bad, just dense.) The gravy was somewhat runny with just the right amount of saltiness. The spaghetti was surprisingly good! It's been a few years since I've gone to a Jolly Bee and I had imagined the spaghetti to only be sweet and savory. It was actually pretty good! (Not in an Italian way though. It was a little spicy, which I loved! I wasn't expecting it to be spicy so it was a very pleasant surprise! It was a tad sweet...just the right amount! (There isn't a 3-piece combo on the menu, but the server was kind enough to accommodate my request for an extra piece of chicken.) It came with a container of gravy that made me wonder what it was for, immediately. Then I remembered all the commercials and YouTube videos where food reviewers either slathered their chicken with the gravy or they dunked it into the gravy. I was so hungry that I forgot for a few seconds that the gravy was for the chicken, thus I drank most of the gravy!! The dining area is constantly cleaned and draws a diverse crowd. Because it is at the beginning of downtown it does attract some homeless people as well. But, that's life in the big city, right? When I went to the restroom I found it amusing that a male Jollibee employee was changing his shirt. It seemed he was done for the day. Overall, it was a pleasant meal. There's not much to be said since this is comfort food, not gourmet food!

    5 stars for the food and cleanliness. 2 stars for the…read morecustomer service. I'm very disappointed with my experience. I placed an online order early in the morning for a 5:30 PM pickup. I arrived around 5:40 PM, but getting into the parking lot took longer than expected because of the very long drive-thru line and limited parking. Once inside, I waited about 5 minutes at the counter before anyone acknowledged me. I was the only customer waiting inside. I even stood near the online pickup area for a while, hoping someone would ask if I needed help, but several employees walked by without acknowledging me. Two cashiers looked in my direction multiple times but continued their conversation instead of checking whether I was waiting for an order. I finally interrupted to let them know I was there for an online pickup and gave them my name. Unfortunately, there seemed to be confusion about my order. One employee pointed to another, who then pointed back to the first employee while continuing to prepare food. No one was able to tell me whether my order was ready. Thankfully, an employee wearing a different colored shirt (a manager I'm assuming) noticed I hadn't been helped. She immediately apologized, asked for my name, checked on my order, and informed the kitchen that more chicken needed to be prepared. Shortly after, another manager also stepped in, apologized, and helped get everything together. I finally left with my order at 6:09 PM, nearly 40 minutes after my scheduled pickup time. The food was fresh, delicious, and the restaurant itself was clean, which is why I'm giving 5 stars for the food and cleanliness. However, this isn't the first time I've had to wait an unusually long time just to be acknowledged for an online pickup. In the past, my food has at least been ready once someone finally helped me. This visit was different because not only was I ignored, but my order also wasn't ready. I understand that restaurants are fast-paced environments and that unexpected staffing shortages can happen if someone calls out sick. However, there appeared to be plenty of staff working during my visit. My concern wasn't the number of employees--it was the lack of communication, urgency, and teamwork. I believe additional customer service and workflow training could help employees become more productive and ensure that customers, especially those picking up online orders, are acknowledged promptly. A simple greeting such as, "We'll be right with you," or "Let me check on your order," would have made a significant difference. Good communication goes a long way and leaves customers feeling valued, even during busy times.

    Photos
    Jollibee - Achievements along the wall inside.

    Achievements along the wall inside.

    Jollibee - Palabok so yummy *4/2025

    Palabok so yummy *4/2025

    Jollibee - Palabok for dinner *4/2025

    See all

    Palabok for dinner *4/2025

    Rainbow BBQ - korean - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...